Remotely controlled chemical compound formulator



July 6, 1937.

H. s. VAN DOREN 2,085,881 REMOTELY CONTROLLED CHEMICAL COMPOUND FORMULATOR Filed March 5, 1936 5 Sheets-Sheet l ATOM C RATIOS 8 COMBINING UNITS ELEM POSITIVE NEGATIVE ELEMENTS ELEMENTS INVENTOR. I /AROL 0 5. I/A/V DOREN 2% ATTORNEY.

July 6, 1937.

H. s. VAN DOREN 2,085,881 REMOTELY CONTROLLED CHEMICAL COMPOUND FORMULA'FOR I File d March s, was a Sheets-Sheet s INVENTOR. HAROLD S VAN Dons/v BY r I ATTORNEY.

Patented July 6, 1937 UNITED REMOTELY CONTROLLED CHEMICAL COM- POUND FORMULATOR Harold S. van Daren, Williston Park, N. Y

Application March 3, 1936, Serial No. 66,795

10 Claims.

The invention relates to educational apparatus, more especially as adapted to chemical problems such as the determination of proper combining values in the chemical union of diiierent elements or radicals.

It has for an object the provision of apparatus embodying a remote control element and a dis play element operable therefrom and on which latter are provided illuminable panels arranged in a group of symbols of the elements and radicals of positive characteristics and a group of panels bearing symbols of elements or radicals of negative characteristics, together with associated numerals indicating the different combining values or atomic ratios under which an element or radical of one group may enter into combination with an element or radical of the other group.

Another object of the invention resides in the provision of means for effecting illumination of the particular elements or radicals selected, together with the corresponding ratio numbers; and in the event of an incorrect setting, as inthe selection of elements from a pair of groups which cannot chemically combine, the provision of means for extinguishment. automatically of all illumination.

A still further object of the invention resides in the addition to the foregoing apparatus of means whereby elements or radicals, correctly combined through proper selection in one apparatus, may, as a compound or element, be combined with a compound or element similarly resulting from the operation of a like apparatus also provided with illumination means, together with the illumination of additional numbers corresponding to the number of unitsof two compounds or an element and a compound reacting.

In carrying out the invention, two sets of rotary gang switches are arranged for manual control, each switch embodying a plurality of angularly disposed switch elements with steps so arranged that like angular displacements register corresponding contact positions (active or blank) in each of the switch elements. One gang switch is arranged for the illumination of a series of signal blocks or panels having symbols representing positive group elements and/or radicals; and another switch is associated therewith to illuminate panels having symbols representative of negative elements and/or radicals. The circuits controlled by the two switches, moreover, are so interconnected that when elements are selected which may chemically combine with each other, not only will the selected element of each group be illuminated, but there will be displayed with each element an illuminated number setting forth the particular atomic ratio thereof under which the combination is effected. In the event that elements have been selected which. cannot chemically combine with each other, or are of improbable combinations, further switch elements serve to control a relay for interrupting the current supply to the respective illumination means so that no illumination whatsoeverwill be had when the setting is incorrectly completed and thus indicating that incorrect selection has been made.

By combining two sets of the apparatus as in the provision of an additional switch element to each gang switch of an apparatus, suitable interconnection may be had between said two apparatuses for representing by corresponding illumination the number of combining units of the one selected compound or element entering into combination with the compound or element selected on the other apparatus and the number of combining units thereof.

The nature of the invention, however, will best be understood when described in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

- Fig. 1 shows in elevation the panel member and remote control member therefor constituting the novel apparatus.

Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic view showing the novel arrangement of switches, lamps, and relays, and theelectrical,connections thereto.

Fig. 3 is a similar, but fragmentary view, illustrating a modification. Referring to the drawings, l designates a panel member or board having associated therewith a' plurality of lamps, more particularly indicated in Fig. 2 of the drawings, and hereinafter more fully described. These lamps are designed to illuminate under certain controlled conditions indi vidual suitable indicia of panel elements located over the face of the panel member It. For example, a block of the panel members ll, l2, l3,

l4, l5, l6, I1, and I8 may be representative of different positive chemical elements or radicals, as indicated by the chemical symbols thereof, one of which only is shown in each instance on the respective panel elements. With each of thesaid panel elements are associated also the atomic ratio numbers of the particular chemical element or radical represented on a panel element.

, A second associated block of these panel elements is indicated at 20, 2|, 22, and 23, thesame being representative of negative chemical elements or radicals; and each panel element of this second block bears the appropriate. chemical symbol together with the atomic ratio number or numbers of the chemical element or radical designated by such symbol or symbols.

It is preferred to operate the apparatus from some remote point; and to this end, a control panel 25 is provided and is connected to the panel member III by means of a cable 26. Power for operating the various lamps, to afford indication in accordance with the selections made at the remote control panel, many be had through the plug connector 21 designed to fit a suitable socket (not shown) of a source of electricity.

Where the apparatus aforesaid is designed to be combined with a similar apparatus, for setting up combinations of the compounds selected on each of the respective panel members, an outlet cable 28 is provided from the one panel member and a socket 23 also provided thereon to receive a cable 29 from the other. In addition, the panel member I6 is then provided with a further block of lamps for illuminating a series of numbers 36 representative of the number of units of the particular compound selected and entering into combination with the corresponding compound selected on the associated panel member. The arrangement for effecting such combination is more especially set forth in Fig. 3 of the drawings, and will hereinafter be more fully described.

The particular circuits and manner of control of the lights for the different blocks of lamps of a panel representative of the chemical element and of the lamps for illumination of the numbers designating the combining number or numbers of a particular element, is more particularly set forth in Fig. 2 of the drawings. Reference being had to this figure, the block of lamps for the positive chemical elements shown on the panel elements II-I8, is indicated at 46, 4|, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, and 41; and the particular block of lamps for the negative chemical elements shown on the panels 2923, is indicated at 48, 49, 56, and ill. I

The ratio lamps for the elements indicated by lamp 46 are shown at 52, 53, and 54, this particular element combining with three different ratios additional to unity. The elements represented by the lamps 4I and 42 combine with two additional different ratios only and are indicated respectively at the lamps 55, 56 and 51, 58. Where the combining ratio is unity, as is thecase with the elements represented by the lamps 43, 45, and 41, no ratio lamps are required. The elements represented at the lamps 44 and 45 combine with ratios of two, and therefore but a single lamp, indicated at 59 and 66, is provided in each case. r

Similarly, in connection with the block of lamps for the negative chemical elements, the element indicated at the lamp 48 requires five ratio lamps which are indicated at 6!, 62, 63, 64, and 65. This is the case also with the element indicated by the lamp 49. There is thus provided for the latter the five lamps indicated at 66, 61, 68, 69, and 16. In the case of the two elements indicated at the lamps 56 and 5I, the ratio value is two, so that but a single lamp in each case is provided, being indicatedat H and 12, respectively. V

Furthermore, the ratiolamps for each block are provided with individual normally open relay members which control the illumination of the respective ratio lamps. Thus, lamps 52, 53, and 54 are provided with the relays 82, 83, and 84; the lamps 55 and 56, with the relays 85 and 86;

the lamps 51 and 58, with the relays 81 and 88; and the lamps 59 and 66, respectively with the relays 89 and 99all of the positive element block.

In the case of the negative element block, the lamps 6I, 62, 63, 64, and 65 are provided respectively with the relays SI, 92, 93, 94, and 95; the lamps 66, 61, 68, 69, and 16, with the relays 96, 91, 98, 99, and I69; and the lamps 1I and 12, respectively, with the relays NH and I 92. In the case of the lamp 61 controlled primarily by relay 91, this lamp is bridged by a further energizing relay 91 controlled by energization of relay 95 of lamp 65. This is for the purpose of taking care of the ratio necessary in a combination such as S03 or any other element of (+6) valence used in combination with an element or radical of (2) valence.

A further and cutout relay I65 is provided and normally closes one side I 66 of the feed circuit to the element indicating lamps 4041, inclusive, of the positive elements; and 485I, inclusive, of the negative elements, as well as to their ratio lamps. The other lead I66 of this feed circuit goes to the primary control arms of respective switches hereinafter more fully described. Relay I65 is controlled through a circuit embodying the lead I01, and the lead I68 also connected to said respective switches.

The said switches are in the nature of gang switches andare designated as I26 and I36, respectively, the former being provided with an indicator HI and the latter with an indicator I3I. These indicators, in the panel member illustrated in Fig. 1, are designed to travel respectively over dials I22 and I32 suitably graduated toconform to the positive elements in the case of the former dial, and to the negative element in the case of the latter dial, and with uniform and corresponding angular graduations.

The gang switch I26 bears a series of angularly movable contact members or switch elements I23, I24, I25, and I26, all being mounted on a common shaft I21 so as to have like angular movement upon rotation, effected manually, as by means of a knob or the like I23. Similarly, the gang switch I36 comprises a plurality of angularly movable contact members or switch elements I33, I34, I35, I36, and I31, all being mounted on a common shaft I38 so as to have like angular movement upon. rotation, as by means of a knob or the like I39.

A contact arm I23 is designed to move over a series of eight equally spaced active contacts of the member I23; a contact arm I24, over a series of seven active contacts of contact mem ber I24; contact arm I25, over but a single contact of contact member I25, while a contact arm I26 moves over a series of four contacts of member I26. In the case of the gang switch I30, the first contact member is provided with an arm I33 designed to move over a series of four equally spaced contacts; contact arm I34 of member I34 is designed to move over a series of three equally spaced contacts of this member; contact arm I35 of member I35 is designed to move over two contacts of this member; the arm I36, to move over three contacts of member I36; and contact arm I31, to move over two contacts of member I31.

The contact arms of all of the contact members of each of the respective switches are similarly positioned'angularly and each moves a like angular amount upon rotation of its respective shaft I21 or I38.

In the case of the contact members I23 and I 33, their respective contact arms are connected to the lead I06; and the spaced contacts on the respective contact members are connected, in the case of the member I23, successively to the lamps 40-41, inclusive; and in the case of the member I33; are connected successively to they lamps 485I, inclusive. Thus, upon contacting any particular contact of either of these switch contact members I23, I33, the circuit is com-.

pleted to a corresponding lamp to energize the same-all the lamps being connected directly to the other lead I06 of the supply main.

Furthermore, the angular displacement necessary to effect such illumination will effect a corresponding angular positioning of the remaining contact arms of each of the switch members. Thus, in the case of switch I20, contact arm I24, which is connected, together with the switch arm I34, to the power lead I05, may be positioned to energize one or more of the relays controlling the ratio lamps for the block of negative elements. Similarly, operation of switch I30 will'caus-e contact arm I34 to assume a position which may close the circuit to one or more of the relays for the ratio lamps of the block of positive elements.

The remaining contact members of both of these switches serve to control the cutout relay I05 for the common power lead I06 for all of the lamps so that, if an incorrect selection be made, the relay I05 will operate to open this lead. The return lead I08 to the power circuit for operating relay I05 is, to this end, adapted to be connected to all of the arms of the said remaining contact members; that is to say, directly to the arms I36 and I31 of switch I30, and indirectly to the arms I25 and I26 of switch I20. Suitable interconnection of these arms through the contacts of the diiferent contact members will be effected under certain conditions to complete the circuit through the lead I08 to the said relay I05.

By the addition of a further contact member to the respective shafts of each of the two gang switches, it becomes possible to interconnect two of the apparatuses to set forth, as by the illumination of a corresponding number, the number of combining units of the compound or element set up on one of the apparatuses entering into combination with the compound set up on the other, the number of units of the latter also being indicated. Thus, reference being had to Fig. 3 of the drawings, there is providedon the shaft I of the apparatus A contact member I5I with contact arm I52, the contact member I5I being additional to the contact member I53 corresponding to contact member I23 of the mechanism illustrated in Fig. 2--the remaining contact members for sake of simplicity being omitted. Similarly, shaft I55 is provided with a contact member I56 and contact arm I51, this contact member being additional to contact member I58 corresponding to contact member I33 of the mechanism illustrated in Fig. 2the remaining contact members for sake of simplicity being omitted. Contact member I5! is provided with seven active contact positions, while the contact member I56 is provided with only three.

A similar arrangement is provided in case of the apparatus B, the one shaft I60 being provided with contact member I6I having an arm I 62, while the shaft I is provided with the contact member I66'having a contact arm I61. The contact member I 6i is similarly provided with seven active positions, and the contact member I66 with three active positions.

Moreover, each apparatus is-provided with: {in

her I26. i

As an example 'of' the combination of multi:

in number. These lamps. are designed to display numbers from 2 to 8 in each series to represent the number of combining units, no designation being provided where but a single combining unit is involved. The lamps of one series are designed to be energized from the opposite apparatus, that additional series of lamps I10 and I1I and seven is to say, from the contactmember thereof. For

first position of the contact members I53 and.I58'

has been attain-ed.

For the contact'member I56 additional lamps I1 I are provided and are juxtaposed to the first three lamps of the bank I1I corresponding to the 2, 3, and 4 combining unit numbers thereof; and,

similarly, for the contact member I66 additional.

lamps I10 are provided and are juxtaposed to the first three lamps of the bank I10 corresponding to the 2, 3, and 4 combining unit numbers thereof. The conductors for both of these circuits are' included also in the aforesaid cables 28 and 29. I

In operation, the apparatus is manipulated as follows, reference being had to Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings. Assuming that the positive ele-' ment hydrogen of valence 1 is selected to be combined with the negative element chlorine, the

indicator I2I will be set to the position designated 1 by appropriately turning knob I28. This will operate gang switch I20 to supply current to illuminate lamp 40; but as hydrogen is monovalent in this combination, no ratio lamp will be illuminated. The gang switch I30 is similarly manipulated to bring armv I33 into the position corresponding to the designation 1 on the dial I32 for chlorine, by turning knob I39 until it is indicated. This will efiect illumination of lamp 48; but none of the ratio lamps (SI-64 will be energized. The control of these lamps in both instances is through their respective relays 82, 83, and 84 and 9I95, inclusive. The former relays are controlled from the contact member I36 but as the angular position of this arm I34 is insufiicient to reach an active position of said arm, none of the relays 82, 83 or 84 will be energized. This applies also to the position of'arm I24 of contact member I24 so that none of the relays 9I--95 inclusive will be energized. The 7 positions ofthe arms I25" and I26 of switch I 20 as well as of thearms I35, I36 and I31 is such that no circuit will be completed through relay I05 and no opening of the supply circuit is caused-the setting having been for a correct combination and selection of valences. It is to be observed that though the arm- I36 of switch I30 may have attained an active position, the circuit fails valent elements, zinc and. phosphorous may be selected. As in the previous example, pointer I2I will be turned to-the designation 2 on dial I22-zinc being divalent in this compound. Thereby the contact arm I23 is brought to the second position on the contact member I23 this will supply current for illuminating lamp 4|. Similarly, the indicator I31 isset to :the designato be completed at contact -mem-' tion 3 on dial I32--phosphorous being trivalent in the combination. This corresponds to the third position on contact member I33, and secures thereby the illumination of lamp 50. The third position of arm I34, however, serves to actuate the relay 86 forenergization of lamp 56 setting forth that'zinc is taken three times as a unit in this combination. The second position on contact member I23 brings arm I24 of contact member I24 to the first active position and causes actuation of relay NH and energization of its controlled lamp II. This indicates that element phosphorous in this combination is taken twice as a unit--the illumination effected by the setting of switches I21] and I3Il as aforesaid then appearing as Zna and P2.

This is also a correct combination; and relay I05 will not be actuated for neither of the contact arms I25 and I25 of switch I20 has attained an active position; and while arms I35, I36, and I31 of switch I may have attained active positions, the circuit in each instance is interrupted at the corresponding contact members I25 and I26.

When an incorrect, rare or improbable combination is set up, for example, as in the case of heptavalent manganese and. monovalent chlorine, arm I23 of switch I23 would attain its seventh position and for the time being would illuminate lamp 46. Similarly, arm I33 of switch I39 would be set to its first position; but in the previous setting arm I26 has reached a position where it connects directly with the first position of arm I36; and as this arm, through the setting of switch I30, has also attained its first position, the circuit is completed through the relay !05, opening the one side or lead I06 of all of the lamp circuits. This lack of illumination would indicate that an impossible, rare or improbable combination of elements has been set up.

In combining two of these apparatuses, as indicated in Fig. 3, the compound on each is first made up as hereinbefore described; and, if correctly selected, the lamps with proper designations as to elements and ratio numbers will be illuminated. At the same time, the number of units of such compound will be indicated at the lamps IlIl-I'IO and I'll-Ill, except in the case of single units of a compound for which no provision is made as to illumination. For example. if the compound F6203 were indicated on one apparatus, the particular lamps of the group I'II'I ITO, displaying the designations 3 and 2, would be illuminated; and combining this with H3PO4, the particular lamp of the group I1 II'l I having the designation 3 wouldbe energized. This is due to the fact that no matter how many H atoms are selected for combination, the valence of hydrogen is still unity, but the P04 radical has a valence of 3 and thus effects illumination of a 3 lamp. This indicates that 1 part of the former (F6203) will combine with 2 parts of the latter (H3PO4), reduced to its simplest proportions.

If desired, additional contact members (not shown) may be associated with the different gang switches whereby to transfer to corresponding further panels (not shown) and indicate thereon reaction products resulting from combining the two compounds thus set up, and to set forth in connection therewith the number of reaction units of each. It will be understood, also, that the panel arrangement may be multiplied to accommodate reacting compounds of a type different from those herein indicated.

I claim:

1. Educational apparatus embodying a block of electric lamps, each lamp being associated with indicia representative of a difierent positive chemical element or radical; a second'block of electric lamps, each lamp being associated with indicia representative of a different negative chemical element or radical; a gang switch for selecting a predetermined lamp of the first block; a gang switch for selecting a predetermined lamp of the second block; and interconnecting circuits for the said switches and lamps, and a source of electricity for energizing the respective selected lamps.

2. Educational apparatus embodying a block of electric lamps, each lamp being associated with indicia representative of a different positive chemical element or radical; a second block of electric lamps, each lamp being associated with indicia representative of a different negative chemical element or radical; a gang switch for selecting a predetermined lamp of the first block; a gang switch for selecting a predetermined lamp of the second block; interconnecting circuits for the said switches and lamps, and a source of electricity for energizing the respective selected lamps; and means for interrupting automatically the supply of electricity to the selected lamps under certain combinations thereof as selected by said gang switches. 1

3. Educational apparatus embodying a block of electric lamps, each lamp being associated with indicia representative of a different positive chemical element or radical; a second block of electric lamps, each lamp being associated with indicia representative of a diiferent negative chemical element or radical; a gang switch for selecting a 'predetermined lamp of the first block; a gang switch for selecting a predetermined lamp of the second block; interconnecting circuits for the said switches and lamps, and a source of electricity for energizing the respective selected lamps; and relay means operated by both of the gang switches for interrupting the supply of electricity to the selected lamps under certain combinations thereof as selected by said gang switches.

4. Educational apparatus embodying a block of electric lamps: each lamp being associated with indicia representative of a different positive chemical element or radical, and an additional lamp or lamps associated with each of the said block lamps and with indicia representative of its combining number or numbers; a second block of electric lamps, each lamp being associated with indicia representative of a different negative chemical element or radical, and an additional lamp or lamps associated with each of the said second block lamps and with indicia representative of its combining number or numbers; a gang switch for selecting a predetermined lamp of the first block; a gang switch for selecting a predetermined lamp of the second block; interconnecting circuits for the said switches and lamps, and a source of electricity for energizing a selected block lamp; and means controlled by said gang switches for selecting and energizing a corresponding associated combining number lamp or lamps simultaneously with the selection of the said block lamps.

5. Educational apparatus embodying a block of electric lamps, each lamp being associated with indicia representative of a different positive chemical element or radical, and an additional lamp or lamps associated with each of the said block lamps and with indicia representative of its combining number or numbers; a second block of electric lamps, each lamp being associated with indicia representative of a different negative chemical element or radical, and an additional lamp or lamps associated with each of the said second block lamps and with indicia representative of its combining number or numbers; a gang switch for selecting a predetermined lamp of the first block; a gang switch for selecting a predetermined lamp of the second block; interconnecting circuits for the said switches and lamps, and a source of electricity for energizing a selected block lamp; relays for controlling the energization of the combining number lamps of the first block; and relays for controlling the energization of the combining number lamps of the second block, said relays being operated by the gang switch of the first block and the relays of said first block by the gang switch of the second block.

6. Educational apparatus embodying a block of electric lamps, each lamp being associated with indicia representative of a different positive chemical element or radical, and an additional lamp or lamps associated with each of the said block lamps and with indicia representative of its combining number or numbers; a second block of electric lamps, each lamp being associated with indicia representative of a difierent negative chemical element or radical, and an additional lamp or lamps associated with each of the said second block lamps and with indicia representative of its combining number or numbers; a gang switch for selecting a predetermined lamp of the first block; a gang switch for selecting a predetermined lamp of the second block; interconnecting circuits for the said switches and lamps and a source of electricity for energizing a selected block lamp; means controlled by said gang switches for selecting and energizing a corresponding associated combining number lamp or lamps simultaneously with the selection of the said block lamps; and means for interrupting automatically the supply of electricity to the selected lamps and associated combining number lamps under certain combinations thereof as selected by said gang switches.

'7. Educational apparatus comprising a panel member embodying a block of electric lamps and individual panel elements bearing indicia representative or" a different positive chemical element or radical and adapted for illumination by a respective lamp or lamps; a second block of electric lamps and individual panel elements bearing indicia representative of a different negative chemical element or radical and associated with said first-named panel elements and adapted for illumination by a respective lamp of the second block; and a remotely located operating member 0 for controlling the illumination of the suitable indicia of panel elements of the respective blocks and comprising a gang switch for selecting a predetermined lamp of the first block and a gang switch for selecting a predetermined lamp of the second block, together with interconnecting circuits for said switches and lamps, and a source of electricity for energizing the respective selected lamps.

8. Educational apparatus comprising a panel member embodying a block of electric lamps and individual panel elements bearing indicia representative of a different positive chemical element or radical and adapted for illumination by a respective lamp or lamps; a second block of electric lamps and individual panel elements bearing indicia representative of a different negative chemical element or radical and associated with said first-named panel elements and adapted for illumination by a respective lamp of the second block; a remotely located operating member for controlling the illumination of the suitable indicia or panel elements of the respective blocks and comprising a gang switch for selecting a predetermined lamp of the first block and a gang switch for selecting a predetermined lamp of the second block, together with interconnecting circuits for said switches and lamps, and a source of electricity for energizing the respective selected lamps; and means associated with one of the members for interrupting automatically the supply of electricity to the selected lamps under certain combinations thereof as selected by said gang switches.

9. In educational apparatus including a pair of apparatuses as set forth in claim 1: means associated with each of said apparatuses for indicating automatically through the selection of a compound predetermined thereon the number of units of such compound chemically combining with a compound selected by the other of said apparatuses; and circuits interconnecting the two apparatuses and including an additional control switch on the respective gang switches of each of the two said apparatuses and operated jointly therewith.

10. In educational apparatus including a pair of apparatuses as set forth in claim 1: means associated with each of said apparatuses for indicating automatically through the selection of a compound predetermined thereon the number of units of such compound chemically combining with a compound selected by the other of said apparatuses; and circuits interconnecting the two apparatuses and including an additional control switch on the respective gang switches of each of the two said apparatuses and operated jointly therewith, the additional associated control switch of one of the apparatuses controlling the indicating means of the other apparatus and vice versa.

' HAROLD S. VAN DOREN. 

